VMware Fusion
VMware Fusion runs Windows, Linux and other operating systems in virtual machines on a Mac. It’s made by Broadcom, based in the United States.
What it is
Fusion creates a virtual computer inside your Mac. People use it to run Windows applications or test other operating systems without restarting. On Apple silicon Macs, it supports Windows 11 for Arm.
It can share selected Mac folders and copy text and files between systems. Programs inside a virtual machine can access folders you share with it. Camera and microphone access let applications inside the virtual machine use those devices.
Fusion Pro is free for personal, educational and commercial use. Broadcom publishes security fixes, including fixes for flaws that could let software inside a virtual machine affect the Mac. Updates need to be downloaded and installed manually.
Who makes it
Broadcom is a semiconductor and infrastructure software company based in California that acquired VMware in November 2023. Its legal name is Broadcom Inc.. Its website is broadcom.com.
Broadcom makes other software with flaws that attackers have used. Its page in Companies lists them.
Is it the real one?
Every Mac app carries a signature from the developer who made it. Apple checks who the developer is before handing out the certificate, and macOS refuses to open an app whose signature has been tampered with.
HARD hasn’t yet recorded the signature on a real copy of VMware Fusion. Its Mac app shows who signed the copy you have.
Its bundle ID, the name macOS knows it by, is com.vmware.fusion. Download it only from support.broadcom.com, not from an ad or a link someone sends you.
What it can see
macOS asks you before an app can use these. You can change them any time in System Settings → Privacy & Security.
| Permission | What it’s for |
|---|---|
| Accessibility | Lets keyboard and mouse input work inside virtual machines. |
| Screen Recording | Older Fusion versions need this to display the virtual machine desktop correctly. |
| Files and Folders | Accesses virtual machine files and Mac folders used by Fusion. |
| Camera | Lets applications inside a virtual machine use the Mac's camera. |
| Microphone | Lets applications inside a virtual machine receive microphone audio. |
Security record
Problems with VMware Fusion or Broadcom in the last three years, newest first. Keeping the app up to date covers the ones that were fixed.
| When | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Two flaws could let an attacker with administrator access inside a virtual machine run code on the Mac; Broadcom fixed them in Fusion 26H1u1. | ↗ | |
| A flaw could let a local user gain full system privileges on the Mac; Broadcom fixed it in Fusion 26H1. | ↗ | |
| A networking flaw could let an administrator inside one virtual machine intercept or interrupt other virtual machines' connections; Broadcom fixed it in Fusion 25H2u1. | ↗ | |
| Several flaws could let a virtual machine administrator run code on the Mac or expose memory contents; Broadcom fixed them in Fusion 13.6.4. | ↗ | |
| A flaw could let a virtual machine administrator read memory from its process on the Mac; Broadcom reported exploitation and fixed it in Fusion 13.6.3. | ↗ |
References
- VMware Fusion and Workstation vmware.com
- Broadcom completes acquisition of VMware investors.broadcom.com
- Broadcom office locations broadcom.com
- Download and license VMware Desktop Hypervisor knowledge.broadcom.com
- Change in product update process for VMware Workstation and VMware Fusion knowledge.broadcom.com
- VMware Fusion Pro 13 user guide techdocs2-prod.adobecqms.net
- Mouse and keyboard stop working after upgrading to macOS Mojave knowledge.broadcom.com
- Virtual machine shows a black screen after a Mac OS X upgrade knowledge.broadcom.com
- Audio, video or Skype in a Fusion virtual machine is not working knowledge.broadcom.com
- Broadcom community discussion: Fusion privacy permissions and shared folders community.broadcom.com
- VMSA-2026-0007: VMware Workstation and Fusion security updates support.broadcom.com
- VMSA-2026-0003: VMware Fusion privilege escalation fix support.broadcom.com
- VMSA-2026-0002: VMware Workstation and Fusion security updates support.broadcom.com
- VMSA-2025-0013: VMware security updates support.broadcom.com
- VMSA-2025-0004: VMware security updates support.broadcom.com